Bible DISCOVERY 19: The PARADOX of PRAYER

 

The LORD loves

to surprise,

and delight,

the trusting child.

What distinguishes a born again from the non-born again?

We trust in JESUS alone.

We are taught Scripture by the HOLY SPIRIT.

We also encounter many TREASURES from the Bible.

And if you're a child-like born again, boy, what a difference!

You "stumble" upon many more exciting treasures.

Such as the PARADOX of PRAYER.

Which the LORD JESUS reveals:

Matthew 6:6 

King James Version

"But thou, 

when thou prayest, 

enter into thy closet, 

and when thou hast shut thy door, 

pray to thy Father which is in secret; 

and thy Father which seeth in secret 

shall reward thee openly."

In a nutshell, that verse reveals:

Pray to the Father, in secret.

The Father will reward thee, openly.

GOD may be in the unseen.

But He rewards you openly.

You shall see proof of your prayer.

Simple, profound, paradoxical.

And yet holds the truth of prayer.

Apart from another post we wrote.

This, in sharp contrast to how others pray, which JESUS abhors:

Matthew 6:5

King James Version

5 And when thou prayest, 

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: 

for they love to pray standing in the synagogues 

and in the corners of the streets, 

that they may be seen of men. 

Verily I say unto you, 

They have their reward.

How do you pray?

Do you pray at all?

Well, now you know how.

GOD hears every little voice we have.

Especially if we are sincere.

Psalm 14:2

King James Version

2 The Lord looked down from heaven 

upon the children of men, 

to see if there were any that did understand, 

and seek God.

Related material:

WHAT makes GOD answer a PRAYER?

POSTS on PRAYER

PARADOXES

Updated 28 September 2023

The LIVING Testimony of GOD's TRUTH

 

Matthew 3:16-17 

King James Version

16 And Jesus, 

when he was baptized, 

went up straightway out of the water: 

and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, 

and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, 

and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 

This is my beloved Son, 

in whom I am well pleased.

JESUS is the LIVING testimony of GOD's TRUTH*.

Here are more verses to testify of the LORD's DIVINITY.

John 1:1-5 

King James Version

1 In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.

John 1:3 

King James Version

3 All things were made by him; 

and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 

King James Version

14 And the Word was made flesh, 

and dwelt among us, 

(and we beheld his glory, 

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) 

full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:15 

King James Version

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, 

the firstborn of every creature:

John 3:16 

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

Isaiah 9:6 

King James Version

6 For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, 

The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace.

John 14:6 

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, 

the truth, 

and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

Colossians 1:16 

King James version

16 For by him were all things created, 

that are in heaven, 

and that are in earth, 

visible and invisible, 

whether they be thrones, 

or dominions, 

or principalities, 

or powers: 

all things were created by him, 

and for him:

1 John 5:20 

King James Version

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, 

and hath given us an understanding, 

that we may know him that is true, 

and we are in him that is true, 

even in his Son Jesus Christ. 

This is the true God, 

and eternal life.

1 Corinthians 8:6 

King James Version

6 But to us there is but one God, 

the Father, 

of whom are all things, 

and we in him; 

and one Lord Jesus Christ, 

by whom are all things, 

and we by him.

John 10:30 

King James Version

30 I and my Father are one.

Colossians 2:2-3 

King James Version

2 That their hearts might be comforted, 

being knit together in love, 

and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, 

to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, 

and of the Father, 

and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

John 1:17 

King James Version

17 For the law was given by Moses, 

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 

King James Version

18 No man hath seen God at any time, 

the only begotten Son, 

which is in the bosom of the Father, 

he hath declared him.

Hebrews 1:1-6 

King James Version

1 God, 

who at sundry times and in divers manners 

spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, 

whom he hath appointed heir of all things, 

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, 

and the express image of his person, 

and upholding all things by the word of his power, 

when he had by himself purged our sins, 

sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, 

as he hath by inheritance 

obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, 

Thou art my Son, 

this day have I begotten thee? 

And again, I will be to him a Father, 

and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, 

when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, 

And let all the angels of God worship him.

Hebrews 1:8 

King James Version

8 But unto the Son he saith, 

Thy throne, O God, 

is for ever and ever: 

a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Hebrews 1:10-12 

King James Version

10 And, Thou, Lord, 

in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; 

and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; 

but thou remainest; 

and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, 

and they shall be changed: 

but thou art the same, 

and thy years shall not fail.

John 8:58 

King James Version

58 Jesus said unto them, 

Verily, verily, 

I say unto you, 

Before Abraham was, 

I am.

John 10:38 

King James Version

38 But if I do, 

though ye believe not me, 

believe the works: 

that ye may know, 

and believe, 

that the Father is in me, 

and I in him.

Acts 2:22 

King James Version

22 Ye men of Israel, 

hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth, 

a man approved of God among you 

by miracles and wonders and signs, 

which God did by him in the midst of you, 

as ye yourselves also know:

Romans 9:5 

King James Version

5 Whose are the fathers, 

and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, 

who is over all, 

God blessed for ever. 

Amen.

Hebrews 13:8 

King James Version

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, 

and to day, 

and for ever.

Revelation 1:8 

King James Version

8 I am Alpha and Omega, 

the beginning and the ending, 

saith the Lord, 

which is, 

and which was, 

and which is to come, 

the Almighty.

Revelation 19:13 

King James Version

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God.

Revelation 19:16 

King James Version

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 

King Of Kings, 

And Lord Of Lords.

Hebrews 1:3 

King James Version

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, 

and the express image of his person, 

and upholding all things by the word of his power, 

when he had by himself purged our sins, 

sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

John 8:12 

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

1 John 2:2 

King James Version

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: 

and not for ours only,

 but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 3:5 

King James Version

5 And ye know that he was manifested 

to take away our sins; 

and in him is no sin.

1 Peter 3:18 

King James Version

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, 

the just for the unjust, 

that he might bring us to God, 

being put to death in the flesh, 

but quickened by the Spirit:

Isaiah 53:5 

King James Version

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

 and with his stripes we are healed.

John 11:25 

King James Version

25 Jesus said unto her, 

I am the resurrection, 

and the life: 

he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, 

yet shall he live:

John 10:17-18 

King James Version

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, 

because I lay down my life, 

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, 

but I lay it down of myself. 

I have power to lay it down, 

and I have power to take it again. 

This commandment have I received of my Father.

Titus 2:13 

King James Version

13 Looking for that blessed hope, 

and the glorious appearing 

of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

* The title and contents of this post were supplied by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, as I asked a question from my heart, in a brief prayer to JESUS early this morning. 

I asked, "What would you have me do?"

Tantamount to saying, "What would you have me write?"

JESUS "answered" and gave me the words "The LIVING Testimony of GOD's TRUTH", which became the fitting title, then I searched Scripture for the verses, guided by Spirit.

Updated 15 March 2022

The DAY the ARK of GOD Was TAKEN

 

A very strange thing happened last night as I was reading chapters on 1 Samuel, and got to an intriguing verse from God:

1 Samuel 3:11 

King James Version

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, 

Behold, 

I will do a thing in Israel, 

at which both the ears of every one 

that heareth it shall tingle.

I wondered what that could be, so I continued reading:

1 Samuel 3:12-13 (KJV)

12 In that day I will perform against Eli 

all things which I have spoken concerning his house: 

when I begin, 

I will also make an end.

Wow!

Only God can make such a statement, and MEAN it.

And I wondered what caused God to anger:

1 Samuel 3:13 (KJV)

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever 

for the iniquity which he knoweth; 

because his sons made themselves vile, 

and he restrained them not.

And then, I learned of this:

1 Samuel 4:2-11 (KJV)

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: 

and when they joined battle, 

Israel was smitten before the Philistines: 

and they slew of the army in the field 

about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, 

the elders of Israel said, 

Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? 

Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord 

out of Shiloh unto us, 

that, when it cometh among us, 

it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, 

that they might bring from thence 

the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, 

which dwelleth between the cherubims: 

and the two sons of Eli, 

Hophni and Phinehas, 

were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord 

came into the camp, 

all Israel shouted with a great shout, 

so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, 

they said, 

What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 

And they understood that the ark of the Lord 

was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, 

for they said, 

God is come into the camp. 

And they said, 

Woe unto us! 

for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! 

who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? 

these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians 

with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong and quit yourselves like men, 

O ye Philistines, 

that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, 

as they have been to you: 

quit yourselves like men, 

and fight.

10 And the Philistines fought, 

and Israel was smitten, 

and they fled every man into his tent: 

and there was a very great slaughter; 

for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God was taken; 

and the two sons of Eli, 

Hophni and Phinehas, 

were slain.

As I read more into the account of how the ark of God was taken, and the significance of it, I noticed the sky was "rumbling".

Actually, it had been rumbling for sometime since I'd been reading 1 Samuel.

A deep, steady rumble, almost like a HUGE plane traveling the skies, but it seemed long, and steady.

I looked out my window into the night sky, and saw flashes of light from the sky, quiet bolts of lightning springing everywhere -- the sky periodically illuminated from above -- for a full hour.

I called a relative to witness it, and she became afraid.

I had never heard that sound before.

A long, sustained sound.

As if God was gathering His forces, for an opportune time.

It was too strange not to pay attention to.

I live in a country where half of the year is sunny, the other half rainy.

And yes, it's only January.

We don't have these deep rumblings in January.

Storm season is still months from now.

And this much I can attest to you.

What I experienced last night, as I read about the seizing of the ark of God, was like no other.

I truly FELT God's POWER!

He was definitely making a statement.

Of His MIGHT, POWER, and RESTRAINT.

Oh yes, for it felt like He was "restraining" something.

As I watched, I wondered if JESUS was about to return, gathering the dead, and letting His faithful come up to meet Him in the sky.

It was a thought, and I waited, for I remembered the verses:

Acts 1:10-11 (KJV)

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, 

behold, 

two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, 

Ye men of Galilee, 

why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 

this same Jesus, 

which is taken up from you into heaven, 

shall so come in like manner 

as ye have seen him go into heaven.

After an hour of such deep rumblings, the rain fell.

This morning, the sky was overcast, and more rain fell.

With snow blanketing sands in the Sahara, the mist over Dubai, volcanoes and earthquakes acting up in my country, and a world gone mad, I certainly knew what I ought to do, or do more of.

Get even closer to the LORD, and continue studying SCRIPTURE, making sure I got His WORD right.

Which I share with you -- prompts and discoveries -- every chance the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD inspires me to.

It is really TIME to GET RIGHT with the LORD now.

What's stopping you?

There is certainly no time to waste, for JESUS can come any time -- this time, as a man of war, as the LORD OF LORDS, KING OF KINGS.

Further reading:

WAKE UP series

15 Bible Verses about the Second coming

Updated 22 January 2022

HOW the LORD Fights for Us

 

Psalms are "praise" and "prayers".

Surely, these are verses of LOVE for the LORD, from His faithful!

Here's a GLORIOUS example of how GOD fights for us, as testified by David, anointed king of GOD:

Psalm 18 

King James Version

18 I will love thee, 

O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, 

and my fortress, 

and my deliverer; 

my God, my strength, 

in whom I will trust; 

my buckler, 

and the horn of my salvation, 

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the Lord, 

who is worthy to be praised: 

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, 

and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: 

the snares of death prevented me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, 

and cried unto my God: 

he heard my voice out of his temple, 

and my cry came before him, 

even into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; 

the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, 

because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, 

and fire out of his mouth devoured: 

coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, 

and came down: 

and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, 

and did fly: 

yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place; 

his pavilion round about him 

were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, 

hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, 

and the Highest gave his voice; 

hail stones and coals of fire.

14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, 

and scattered them; 

and he shot out lightnings, 

and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen, 

and the foundations of the world 

were discovered at thy rebuke, 

O Lord, 

at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, 

he took me, 

he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

 and from them which hated me: 

for they were too strong for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: 

but the Lord was my stay.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; 

he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; 

according to the cleanness of my hands 

hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, 

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, 

and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him, 

and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, 

according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; 

with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; 

and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; 

but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: 

the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; 

and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, 

his way is perfect: 

the word of the Lord is tried: 

he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the Lord? 

or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, 

and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, 

and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, 

so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: 

and thy right hand hath holden me up, 

and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, 

that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, 

and overtaken them: 

neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: 

they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: 

thou hast subdued under me 

those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; 

that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, 

but there was none to save them: 

even unto the Lord, 

but he answered them not.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: 

I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; 

and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: 

a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, 

they shall obey me: 

the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, 

and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The Lord liveth; 

and blessed be my rock; 

and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, 

and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: 

yea, thou liftest me up 

above those that rise up against me: 

thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, 

among the heathen, 

and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; 

and sheweth mercy to his anointed, 

to David, 

and to his seed for evermore.

(Complete psalm from biblegateway.com)

Updated 22 January 2022

Bible DISCOVERY 18: When GOD SPEAKS

 

What does God say to Job, after Job becomes afflicted by satan, and lets his wife and friends* speak their piece?

Job 38 

King James Version

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, 

and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words 

without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; 

for I will demand of thee, 

and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? 

declare, 

if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, 

if thou knowest? 

or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? 

or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, 

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, 

when it brake forth, 

as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 

and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, 

and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, 

but no further: 

and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; 

and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, 

that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; 

and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, 

and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 

or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? 

or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? 

declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? 

and as for darkness, 

where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, 

and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, 

because thou wast then born? 

or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? 

or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, 

against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, 

which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse 

for the overflowing of waters, 

or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, 

where no man is; 

on the wilderness, 

wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; 

and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? 

or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? 

and the hoary frost of heaven, 

who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, 

and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, 

or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? 

or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? 

canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 

that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, 

that they may go and say unto thee, 

Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? 

or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? 

or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, 

and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? 

or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, 

and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? 

when his young ones cry unto God, 

they wander for lack of meat.

More testimonies of GOD on Job 39, Job 40, Job 41.

Job 40:1-2 (KJV)

40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? 

he that reproveth God, 

let him answer it.

God also makes a POWERFUL statement:

Job 41:11 (KJV)

11 Who hath prevented me, 

that I should repay him? 

whatsoever is under the whole heaven 

is mine.

In the end, God restored Job's freedom, and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Job 42:10 (KJV)

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, 

when he prayed for his friends: 

also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

*Job's friends were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite, and Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram.

Updated 22 January 2022